The
Okavango river enters Namibia from Angola, and crosses the western
edge of the narrow Caprivi strip (less than 50 kilometers) in the
Zambezi Region before it disappears into the Okavango Delta of
Botswana.
Here, just north of the Mohembo border post between Namibia and
Botswana, is the Bwabwata National Park of Namibia. The Okavango
river divides the park into the Mahango Core Area west of the river,
and the Buffalo Core Area east of the river.
The
Bwabwata-Okavango Ramsar wetland is centered on the Mahango and
Buffalo core areas, covering an area of 46,964ha. It borders
onto the Okavango Delta Ramsar site in Botswana and is situated in
the heart of an extensive network of parks and conservation areas
that supports large herds of elephant, buffalo, and rare and
endangered species such as roan and sable antelope. It is an
important corridor for animal movement within the greater region.
The
area is very flat with only a few metres of elevation variances from
north to south. The site forms the beginning of the Okavango Delta
panhandle. Due to the topography and nature of the sandy soils that
act as filters, the water is completely clear and flows slowly. Sand
is transported downstream in the channels as part of an important
ecological process of channel filling and renewal in the swamps.
Most
of the rain in the area falls from December to March and an annual
average of 525mm is recorded. No rain falls between April and
October, making this river and surrounding wetlands a critical
resource for wildlife during this time.
The
water in the Okavango river reaches its highest level in April or
May. It is warm most of the year with temperatures reaching 30°C
plus during summer, and lowest temperatures around 10°C in winter
(June to August).
The
main habitat in the wetland area is the river and its associated
swamps and floodplains. The site has the highest diversity of bird
species in Namibia and also one of the highest diversities of plant
and mammal species in the country.
Upstream
of the Mahango Core Area, the land is densily
populated along
the river and the tarred road to Divundu and beyond to Andara. Local
residents’ main land uses are crop cultivation and livestock
farming. Small-scale farming of millet, sorghum, and maize with small
numbers of goats and cattle is dominant.
History
of Bwabwata National Park
The
BNP was first proclaimed in 1937 as a Nature Reserve, then again in
1963 as the Caprivi Nature Park, and in 1968 as the Caprivi Game
Park. Soon afterwards, the South African Defence Force declared the
park a military zone and established military bases to defend the
border with Angola. The military forces withdrew in 1989 shortly
before Namibia’s independence. In February 1989 the Mahango Core
Area was officially announced to the public. In October 2007 the park
was officially re-proclaimed as the Bwabwata National Park, covering
6,100 km² and incorporating the Mahango Game Reserve as the Mahango
Core Area.
The
Ramsar site falls within the Bwabwata
National
Park
and as a result it is managed by the institutional structures within
Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
When
and why Ramsar
Due
to Namibia being the driest country in Africa south of the Sahara
desert, any wetland within its borders will be considered unique and
of great importance. With the Okavango river (which is the main
source for the Okavango Delta in Botswana) in the center of this
wetland, it is clear why it is considered of international
importance. The wetland was declared as a Ramsar wetland on 13
December 2013, becoming Namibia’s fifth Ramsar wetland.
The
wetland supports several species of plant and animal that are
vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered, such as elephant,
hippopotamus, lion, Grey Crowned Crane, Lappet-faced Vulture, Lesser
Kestrel, Slaty Egret, Wattled Crane, White-headed Vulture, to mention
a few.
Fauna
& Flora
The
flora of the site is dominated by the plants of the permanent swamps,
such as papyrus, reed beds and bulrushes. This is one of the few
places in Namibia where this type of vegetation can be seen. Adjacent
to the permanent swamps are the seasonal swamps and these eventually
make way for extensive Burkea
woodlands
characterised by tall trees. Once again, this is one of the few
places in Namibia where this vegetation type can be seen.
The
fringe of the river has a variable strip of riverine forest,
containing trees such as jackal berry, mangosteen, knobthorn, and
marula. Two conspicuous species on the edge of the floodplain in the
Mahango Core Area are baobab and fan palm. Around the Buffalo Core
Area, on the eastern bank, there are areas with closed riparian
woodland dominated by knobthorn, leadwood, sausage tree, and jackal
berry.
Floodplain
grasslands in the Mahango Core Area support wetland-grazing species
such as red lechwe, sitatunga, reedbuck, waterbuck, and hippo, while
dry woodlands support high-value species such as buffalo, roan, and
sable.
Elephant
populations have increased in the Mahango and Buffalo core areas. The
area also supports a healthy population of predators, including the
endangered African wild dog and cheetah, lion, serval, African civet,
and side-striped jackal. The river contains both Cape clawless and
spotted-necked otters.
Bwabwata
forms a crucial transboundary link for wildlife migration between
Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia. Bwabwata’s core areas serve
as key wildlife areas, supplying wildlife to neighboring
conservancies and resident communities who sell trophy hunting rights
to professional hunting operators, and develop tourism on their own
land.
Over
400 species of birds have been recorded at the site, the highest
number anywhere in Namibia. This is one of the few places in Namibia
where rare species such as Slaty Egret, Pel’s Fishing-Owl and
Narina Trogon can be seen regularly.
Floodplains
and grasslands in the Mahango Core Area are breeding habitat for the
vulrenable Wattled Crane. The sand banks in the Okavango River are a
breeding habitat for the endangered African Skimmer.
Tourism
Tourism
is an important land use in and around the Mahango Core Area of the
Ramsar site with several lodges and guesthouses operating upstream of
the core area. This includes the Popa Falls Rest Camp managed by
Namibia Wildife Resorts.
One
of the more popular camp sites is Ngepi Camp, 12 kilometers
downstream (south) from Popa Falls. It offers camp sites with river
views, grass surfaces, trees for shade, interesting ablution
facilities, restaurant, bar, DSTV, and Wi-Fi. Luxurious tree houses
are also available.
Tourism
activities include vehicle-based game viewing, guided walks, guided
boating, fishing, guided cultural excursions, bird watching,
self-drive 4x4 excursions, and camping.
Trophy
hunting takes place within the Buffalo Core Area. It is a major
source of income for the local communities. It also provides by
products such as meat and animals skins to the people in this poor
area. However, authorities realise that hunting is not appreciated in
conservation areas and plans are in place to either reduce the
hunting concessions, or move it outside the park altogether.
Special
There
are limited roads in the Mahango Core Area which can be accessed by
most sedan vehicles. It takes you towards the river, passing a huge
baobab tree. Unfortunately there are no facilities such as picnic
sites or toilets for visitors.
The
roads are
used by day visitors who need to buy a permit at the Mahango station
alongside the main road to the Mohembo border post. We witnessed how
visitors who did not buy the permit, were blocked from leaving the
country at the border post. They had to return to Mahango station to
pay a fine and obtain a valid permit.
There
is a waterhole in the Mahango Core Area, further
west away
from the river. We saw herds of elephants, kudus and other antelopes
gathering here.
To
enter the Buffalo core are, you need to cross the Okavango river to
its eastern side, just outside the town of Divundu. The roads here
are sandy jeep tracks and a 4x4 vehicle is recommended. Remains of
the military bases can be seen along the road towards Nova, a
rangers’ station. The flood plains here provide excellent birding
opportunities as well as game spotting such as buffalo and the
elusive sable antelope.
Date
of visit: 18 to 21 June 2016